ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt “will be joined by” Marcus Spears, Ryan Clark and Robert Griffin III on the new “Monday Night Countdown,” according to Andrew Marchand of the N.Y. POST. Van Pelt replaces Suzy Kolber, who was “let go at the end of June as part of ESPN’s layoffs.” Van Pelt “already did the postgame show” after “Monday Night Football” games. For Spears, this “continues his rise through ESPN’s ranks.” Marchand notes Clark has also “become a mainstay on ESPN’s NFL programming” while Griffin was previously on the show (N.Y. POST, 8/21).
BULKING THE CREW: Former NFLers Larry Fitzgerald Jr. and Alex Smith will also join Monday Night Countdown periodically throughout the season, continuing the role they each began in recent years. In advance of his expanded role, ESPN has signed Van Pelt to a new multiyear deal. In addition to his NFL presence, Van Pelt will continue to host his late-night SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt on most weeknights. In addition, he will continue as host of ESPN’s coverage of golf majors, including the Masters Tournament and the PGA Championship, as well as the monthly Bad Beats show and ESPN Audio’s weekly SVPod podcast. Van Pelt has been with ESPN since 2001 (ESPN).
